Page 23 of Bossy Wicked Prince

Happy for you, Nate. It’s been a minute.

Beau

Wait, she doesn’t have curly blonde hair, does she?

Ryan

How’d you know?

Beau

I KNEW something was up! Nate was all pissed about our ex-chef harassing her.

Beau

You better have been nice to her, dude. Cat’s one of my best servers. If she quits because you broke her heart, I’m holding you personally responsible.

Ryan

Cat, hot name.

I press my fingers against my temples. The last thing I needed was for the guys to get up in my face about Cat. I’ve already blurred the boundaries with her too much. If I don’t shut this down fast, they’re all going to introduce themselves to her, just to piss me off.

I already know exactly how it’ll go. Ryan will flirt with her relentlessly. Beau will turn her into his new work bestie, giving her special treatment, which she might deserve but which she’ll definitely hate. Luke will make sure she feels included in the conversation, but he’ll also share every one of our dirty little secrets with her to be a total ass, while strategically avoiding sharing any of hismanysins.

James is the one I really have to worry about. He’s the most like me—reserved, logical, obsessively focused on his business, and so stone-faced, even Cat’s effusive warmth won’t be able to penetrate him.

Which means he’ll be the first to notice exactly how rattled Cat has me.

I take my time composing my answer. If I play my cards right, I’ll give them just enough information that harassing me won’t be interesting anymore.

Nate

Sorry to disappoint, but she slept in the guest room. I gave her a ride home yesterday when I saw her walking in the rain, and when we got there, her place was broken into. She’s staying here until her shitty landlord fixes the door. She’s in a tough spot, so don’t go hitting on her when she’s vulnerable, Ryan.

Almost immediately, my phone lights up again with their answers.

Ryan

Don’t worry, bro. I’d never step on your turf.

Beau

Guest room, sure. If she quits, you owe me a new waitress.

Luke

She’s welcome to stay at my place if she gets tired of your caveman grunts.

James

I’ll send you that Pedro Pascal movie. I need to decide whether to market it as a date night movie.

Nate

Don’t you all have jobs you should be doing?

I silence my notifications and slip my phone back in my pocket. If they’re going to give me shit all day, then I’m ignoring them till I’m done with work. With the Crown Hotel Group deal, I’ll have too much to do at the office to waste time with them.